Kate Kendell is the incoming CEO of the Gill Foundation. She leads the team in executing the vision of Tim Gill and the board by prioritizing, implementing, and measuring the foundation’s work and grant-making toward its mission of securing full equality for LGBTQ Americans.

For 22 years, Kate led the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Kate stepped down from this role at the end of 2018.

From August 2019 to May 2021, Kate was the Interim Chief Legal Officer at the Southern Poverty Law Center. In June 2021, Kate became the first ever Chief of Staff at The California Endowment a position she held until March 2025.

Growing up Mormon in Utah, Kate learned about the complexities of religion and politics from an early age. After receiving her J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law in 1988 and a few years practicing corporate law, she pursued her real love – civil rights advocacy – and became the first staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah. There she directly litigated many high-profile cases focusing on all aspects of civil liberties. In 1994 she joined NCLR as legal director and was named executive director two years later.

Through her role at the foundation, Kate continues her work building inclusive organizations and fighting for justice for multiple communities – mixing strategic acumen and pragmatism.

To contact Kate, email: katekendell[at]gillfoundation.org